Figure the net return (3)
I believe the answer is:
ten
'figure' is the definition.
(ten is a number)
'net return' is the wordplay.
'return' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'net' written backwards gives 'TEN'.
'the' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ten that I've seen before include "Dudley Moore/Bo Derek film" , "Figure" , "PM's address, Downing St" , "Roman numeral X" , "Five times two" .)