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Longed for the time when Den will return (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yearned

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'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" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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