Harden footballer suffers a misfortune (7)

I believe the answer is:

setback

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'suffers a misfortune' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'harden footballer' is the wordplay.
'harden' becomes 'set' (I've seen this before).
'footballer' becomes 'back' (back is a kind of footballer).
'set'+'back'='SETBACK'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for setback that I've seen before include "unfortunate event" , "Reversal of fortune" , "Hitch" , "Problem" , "Hindrance to progress" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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