Nickname for an abandoned Yankee? (5)

I believe the answer is:

lefty

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'nickname for' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'abandoned yankee?' is the wordplay.
'abandoned' becomes 'left' (leave can mean to abandon).
'yankee?' becomes 'Y' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'left'+'y'='LEFTY'

'an' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lefty that I've seen before include "Socialist; communist" , "Trot" , "Radical" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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