Never included in the team that's playing. Not I (2,2,4)
I believe the answer is:
at no time
'never' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'included in the team that's playing not i' is the wordplay.
'included in' indicates putting letters inside.
'that's playing' is an anagram indicator.
'team' with letters rearranged gives 'atme'.
'not'+'i'='noti'
'atme' placed around 'noti' is 'AT NO TIME'.
(Another definition for at no time that I've seen is " Never".)
I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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