Pointers small and unnecessary (8)
I believe the answer is:
needless
'unnecessary' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'pointers small' is the wordplay.
'pointers' becomes 'needles' (needle is a kind of pointer).
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'needles'+'s'='NEEDLESS'
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for needless that I've seen before include "for no good reason" , "Superfluous" , "Uncalled-for" , "Unnecessary, avoidable" , "Unwanted" .)