Downtrodden shoe cleaner (7)

I believe the answer is:

doormat

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'shoe cleaner' is the definition.
(you might clean your shoes on a doormat)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for doormat that I've seen before include "Coarse rug for wiping shoes at entrance" , "Lackey" , "Badly treated but uncomplaining person" , "Mad root (anag.)" , "Habitually humiliated person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Guardian.

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