Crossword Genius

Spot the English agent (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

espy

'spot' is the definition.
(I know that spot can be written as espy)

'english agent' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'agent' becomes 'spy' (spy is a kind of agent).
'e'+'spy'='ESPY'

'the' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for espy that I've seen before include "Behold" , "Watch" , "Observe, notice" , "Perceive" , "Detect" .)

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