Small footwear: they might be hurting (9)
![Ross](/clue/static/ross-mug.min.png)
I believe the answer is:
strainers
'be hurting' is the definition.
Although both the answer and 'hurting' are nouns, they are not in the same form of the noun.
'small footwear they' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'footwear' becomes 'trainer'.
'they' becomes 's' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
's'+'trainer'+'s'='STRAINERS'
'might' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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