Crossword Genius

Man, that's small for recruits (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rookies

'recruits' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'man that's small' is the wordplay.
'man' becomes 'rook' (rook is a kind of man).
'that's' becomes 'ie'.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'rook'+'ie'+'s'='ROOKIES'

'for' is the link.

(Other definitions for rookies that I've seen before include "Novices in American army" , "trainees" , "Raw beginners" , "Ok, I rose awkwardly with the recruits" , "New recruits as in army" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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