Love troubled little animal (4)

I believe the answer is:

vole

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

'little animal' is the definition.
'vole' can be an answer for 'animal' (thesaurus). I'm not certain of the 'little' bit.

'love troubled' is the wordplay.
'troubled' is an anagram indicator.
'love' anagrammed gives 'VOLE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for vole that I've seen before include "Holm-oak" , "Strange love for a rodent" , "Small mammal - one to love" , "win all the tricks" , "creature" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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