Wants credit for a smashing save (6)
I believe the answer is:
craves
'wants' is the definition.
(craving is a kind of wanting)
'credit for a smashing save' is the wordplay.
'credit' becomes 'cr'.
'for' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a smashing' indicates anagramming the letters.
'save' is an anagram of 'aves'.
'cr'+'aves'='CRAVES'
(Other definitions for craves that I've seen before include "Feels a powerful desire" , "Hungers or longs for" .)