Newcastle United player ratings vs AC Milan: Anthony Gordon and Miguel Almiron atrocious as Eddie Howe's exhausted side crash out of Europe

Long after the final whistle had blown at St James' Park, Bruno Guimaraes was still sitting on the pitch, exhausted and heartbroken. Just like every one of his Newcastle team-mates, he had given his all in Wednesday night's Champions League showdown with AC Milan - but the hosts had ultimately come up short, losing 2-1 to finish bottom of the 'Group of Death'.

Consequently, Eddie Howe and his players will have no European football to look forward to after Christmas but, in truth, that might be for the best. This injury-ravaged side is both mentally and physically drained right now.

They produced a heroic first-half showing against Milan, deservedly taking the lead through a terrific goal from Joelinton, who controlled a pass from Lewis Miley on the edge of the area before thumping the ball past Mike Maignan. At that point they were through to the last 16, with Paris Saint-Germain being held by the already-qualified Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.

However, Newcastle faded badly after the interval and AC Milan killed them on the counter-attack, with Christian Pulisic tapping home a clever diversion from Oliver Giroud after some incisive play down the left flank from Rafael Leao, before Samuel Chukwueze finished a brilliant breakaway in some style.

Below, GOAL rates the Newcastle players on Tyneside...