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Initially when to expect a letter from Greece (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eta

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

'letter from greece' is the definition.
(letter from the Greek alphabet)

'initially when to expect a' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'when' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is found in the answer.
'a' is within the answer.
A single letter 't' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eta that I've seen before include "indicating when flight is due" , "Greek letter - time due (abbr)" , "Greek letter E; estimated time of arrival (abbr.)" , "giving expected termination of journey" , "when you can hope to receive it" .)

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