The English go for a self-image (3)
I believe the answer is:
ego
'a self-image' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'the english go' is the wordplay.
'the english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'e'+'go'='EGO'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ego that I've seen before include "Self-esteem, sense of self" , "Self-esteem or self-importance" , "Inner self" , "In Virgil I" , "(Self-assertive) personality" .)