Popular wolf up to forward surge? (6)

I believe the answer is:

inflow

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'forward surge?' is the definition.
'inflow' can be an answer for 'surge?' (thesaurus). I'm not certain of the 'forward' bit.

'popular wolf up' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'wolf' backwards is 'flow'.
'in'+'flow'='INFLOW'

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for inflow that I've seen before include "Maybe immigrants" , "Movement towards the centre" , "Influx" , "Fluid movement" , "Movement (of money/people) into a place" .)

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

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