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He may be back in the team (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

defender

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'he' is the definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.

'be back in the team' is the wordplay.
'be back' becomes 'end' (I've seen this in other clues).
'in the' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'team' becomes 'defer' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'end' put inside 'defer' is 'DEFENDER'.

'may' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for defender that I've seen before include "One resisting attack" , "one aiming to retain his title" , "One who protects from danger or takes one's side" , "Guard - champion" , "Centre half, perhaps" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Irish News.
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