Crossword Genius

He should have a smart master (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

valet

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'he should have a smart master' is the definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.

'he should have a smart master' is the wordplay.
'he' becomes 'Val'.
'should have' says to put letters next to each other.
'a smart master' becomes 'et' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'val'+'et'='VALET'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for valet that I've seen before include "Gentleman%u2019s gentleman" , "dresser" , "Man's manservant" , "'No man is a hero to his . . . . .'" , "Jeeves?" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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