Longed for the time when Den will return (7)
I believe the answer is:
yearned
'longed for' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'time when den will return' is the wordplay.
'time when' becomes 'year' (I've seen this before. I am not sure about the 'when' bit.).
'will return' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'den' written backwards gives 'ned'.
'year'+'ned'='YEARNED'
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for yearned that I've seen before include "Deanery (anag)" , "Desired strongly and persistently" , "Longed to be in deanery" , "Craved" , "Longed, hankered" .)