Pathetic sort of mobile phone cover for owner (2-5)
I believe the answer is:
no-hoper
'pathetic sort' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'mobile phone cover for owner' is the wordplay.
'mobile' indicates an anagram (mobile can mean moving).
'cover for' means to remove the middle letters.
'owner' with its centre removed is 'or'.
'phone'+'or'='phoneor'
'phoneor' with letters rearranged gives 'NO-HOPER'.
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for no-hoper that I've seen before include "Useless person" , "Person not expected to be successful" , "Person expected to fail" , "definite loser" , "One with little chance of success?" .)