State given to freshly recruited footballer (3,6)
I believe the answer is:
new jersey
'state' is the definition.
(New Jersey is an example)
'given to freshly recruited footballer' is the wordplay.
'given to' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'freshly' becomes 'new' (synonyms).
'recruited footballer' becomes 'jersey' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'new' next to 'jersey' is 'NEW JERSEY'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for new jersey that I've seen before include "what might be requirement for scruffy tramp" , "Coastal US state" , "US state; seasonal gift?" , "change of clothing" , "calf?" .)