Help out in a punt (4)
I believe the answer is:
abet
'help out' is the definition.
'a punt' is the wordplay.
'punt' becomes 'bet' (I've seen this in other clues).
'a'+'bet'='ABET'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for abet that I've seen before include "Aid and help, perhaps in crime" , "support wrongdoing" , "Beat (anag.)" , "Aid - connive with" , "Encourage (wrongdoing)" .)