Rookies oddly need nothing ahead of battles, we're told (9)

'rookies' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'oddly need nothing ahead of battles we're told' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'nothing' becomes 'O' (looks like zero - 0).
'ahead' means one lot of letters go next to another (some letters go in front of others).
'of battles' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'battle' mean this (the letters disrupted as if in battle)).
'we're told' becomes 'phytes' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
The alternate letters of 'need' are 'ne'.
'ne' put after 'o' is 'one'.
'one' anagrammed gives 'neo'.
'neo'+'phytes'='NEOPHYTES'

Can you help me to learn more?