Expert took heart, no fool (7)

I believe the answer is:

buffoon

'fool' is the definition.
(I know that buffoon is a type of fool)

'expert took heart no' is the wordplay.
'expert' becomes 'buff' (buff can mean an expert or aficionado).
'heart' indicates the central letters.
'no' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation).
The middle of 'took' is 'oo'.
'buff'+'oo'+'n'='BUFFOON'

(Other definitions for buffoon that I've seen before include "Jester" , "Ridiculous person" , "'Clown, fool (7)'" , "Foolish person" , "comic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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