Type of apple in a tree, damaged (5)
I believe the answer is:
eater
'type of apple' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a tree damaged' is the wordplay.
'damaged' indicates an anagram.
'a'+'tree'='atree'
'atree' anagrammed gives 'EATER'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for eater that I've seen before include "Person taking course" , "Taker of food" , "type of fruit" , "Type of apple" , "Fruit (but not a cooker)" .)