Crossword Genius

Count to play the informer (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tell

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'count' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'play the informer' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'ell' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tell that I've seen before include "Grass - Swiss hero" , "Relate; Swiss hero" , "Reveal - command" , "Narrate; inform" , "Count - recount" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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