Is back with directions before a city (5)
I believe the answer is:
siena
'city' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'is back with directions before a' is the wordplay.
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'directions' becomes 'en' (I've seen this in other clues).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'is' reversed gives 'si'.
'si'+'en'+'a'='SIENA'
(Other definitions for siena that I've seen before include "Tuscan city" , "Tuscan town" , "City of St Catherine in Tuscany" , "somewhere in Italy)" , "Italian location" .)