Link it up with the early start (3)
I believe the answer is:
tie
'link' is the definition.
(I know that link can be written as tie)
'it up with the early start' is the wordplay.
'up with' indicates anagramming the letters (letters get chucked up).
'start' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'early' is 'e'.
'it' with its letters anagrammed with 'e' can make 'TIE'.
(Other definitions for tie that I've seen before include "Equal scores" , "Attach, fasten" , "Bond, link" , "Neck-cloth" , "Bind; knot" .)