Some change referee or protege or attacking player (6,7)
I believe the answer is:
centre forward
'attacking player' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'some change referee or protege' is the wordplay.
'some change' becomes 'cent' (I have seen 'Small change' mean 'cent' so perhaps 'change' could also mean 'cent').
'referee' becomes 'ref' (synonyms).
'protege' becomes 'ward'.
'cent'+'ref'+'or'+'ward'='CENTRE FORWARD'
'or' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for centre forward that I've seen is " footballer".)