Player who's fancied fruit left item in ring? (4,5)

I believe the answer is:

seed pearl

'item in ring?' is the definition.
(small pearl used in jewellery)

'player who's fancied fruit left' is the wordplay.
'player who's fancied' becomes 'seed' (a player predicted to do well).
'fruit' becomes 'pear' (pear is a kind of fruit).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'seed'+'pear'+'l'='SEED-PEARL'

(Another definition for seed pearl that I've seen is " Very small gem".)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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