Crossword Genius

Due to a duck having to fly (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

owing

'due to' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a duck having to fly' is the wordplay.
'a duck' becomes 'o' (resembles zero - 'duck' in cricket).
'having' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'to fly' becomes 'wing' (synonyms).
'o'+'wing'='OWING'

(Other definitions for owing that I've seen before include "Unsettled; on account" , "Unpaid" , "This debt has yet to be paid" , "Undischarged" , "Still outstanding" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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