Jermaine Jenas says AC Milan struggled to deal with £45m Newcastle player

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Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon earned praise from Jermaine Jenas for his role in the Magpies’ goal in the Champions League encounter with AC Milan.

The 22-year-old Newcastle talent caused opposite number Davide Calabria “a lot of problems” in the lead-up to the Magpies’ opener, Jenas told TNT Sports.

In the 33rd minute, Gordon attacked the uncontested space with a probing run, and Calabria seemed uncomfortable following his man inside.

The £45million man then set up Lewis Miley, the runner from deep on the right flank, who in turn pulled the ball back to Joelinton for a fierce strike into the top left-hand corner.

“Anthony Gordon’s movement down this left hand side has really caused Calabria a lot of problems,” said Jenas. “The way he has linked up with Livramento.

“This is the movement I’m on about, Calabria doesn’t know what to do. Does he take on Gordon or go with Livramento?

“Dropping into that pocket there just gives him acres of space and he just has to pick the right pass, there’s the calmness from Lewis Miley. And then the finish!”

Newcastle United will be back

Newcastle were dreaming of qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League at the end of the first half, but sadly it wasn’t to be.

Milan turned the game around, coming from behind in the 59th minute through a Christian Pulisic equaliser before Samuel Chukwueze struck the winner.

The result saw Newcastle finish bottom of the group and bow out of Europe completely for the season.

Eddie Howe opted to take Gordon – as well as Kieran Trippier – off in the 63rd minute, a decision that some Newcastle fans weren’t happy about.

It ended up as a heart-breaking evening for the Magpies, but this Champions League campaign will hopefully be the first of many as Newcastle continue to build after laying some great foundations.

In the space of under 24 months, the Magpies have gone from relegation near-certainties to holding their own in arguably the toughest Champions League group of the season and taking it to the final day.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Rebuilding a football club’s squad takes time. So far so good, and as the January transfer window rolls in, no doubt Newcastle will add some more pieces to the jigsaw.