Musical patron gives man first-class return (7)
I believe the answer is:
cecilia
'musical patron' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'man first-class return' is the wordplay.
'man' becomes 'cecil' (I've seen this before).
'first class' becomes 'ai' (Ac - top quality).
'return' says the letters should be written backwards.
'ai' reversed gives 'ia'.
'cecil'+'ia'='CECILIA'
'gives' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cecilia that I've seen before include "Female" , "Simon and Garfunkel song" , "girl" , "Patron saint of church music" , "Patron saint of musicians" .)