Crossword Genius

Dull learner with a need for redirection (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

leaden

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'dull' is the definition.
(I know that dull can be written as leaden)

'learner with a need for redirection' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'learner' could be 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car) and 'l' is present in the answer.
'a' is found in the answer.
an anagram of 'need' is 'eden' which is present in the left over letters.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for leaden that I've seen before include "Heavy - plodding" , "Dull, heavy, slow" , "Slow-moving, being like heavy metal" , "Oppressive" , "Gloomy - slow-moving" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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