Crossword Genius

Deserve new timer (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

merit

'deserve' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'new timer' is the wordplay.
'new' indicates an anagram.
'timer' is an anagram of 'MERIT'.

(Other definitions for merit that I've seen before include "Quality deserving reward" , "Excellence that deserves to be honoured" , "The M in OM" , "of a high order?" , "Good point or quality" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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