Crossword Genius

Loner in sports ground, learner needing exercise (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

recluse

'loner' is the definition.
(recluse is a kind of loner)

'sports ground learner needing exercise' is the wordplay.
'sports ground' becomes 'rec' (I've seen this in other clues).
'learner' becomes 'l'.
'needing' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'exercise' becomes 'use' ('use' can be a synonym of 'exercise'**).
'rec'+'l'+'use'='RECLUSE'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for recluse that I've seen before include "What, say, Howard Hughes became" , "Solitary person who avoids others" , "One seeking solitude" , "One who avoids people, like hermit" , "One preferring solitude" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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