Dubious deal on defender (8)
I believe the answer is:
backhand
'dubious' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'deal on defender' is the wordplay.
'deal' becomes 'hand' (synonyms).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'defender' becomes 'back' (left-backs and right-backs are football defenders).
'hand' after 'back' is 'BACKHAND'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for backhand that I've seen before include "Tennis stroke" , "A racket stroke" , "flourish in court" , "stroke, in court" , "shot, sportingly?" .)