Regard as an outspoken character (3)
I believe the answer is:
eye
'regard' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'outspoken character' is the wordplay.
'outspoken' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue (as the word might be spoken).
'character' becomes 'i'.
'i' sounds like 'EYE'.
'as an' is the link.
(Other definitions for eye that I've seen before include "Bit of a potato (or a needle?)" , "View" , "Body organ" , "One looks" , "Place for pupil" .)