Hull City paper talk, May 5: Curtis Davies criticised, Tom Huddlestone tipped again for Brazil and Nick's back

Poor Curtis Davies had to admit to not having the greatest of games for Hull City after the 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa. On Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy both picked out the usually rock solid City captain for criticism in all of Villa's goals. Davies was bundled over unceremoniously by Gabby Agbonlahor in the build up to the first, was accused of failing to pick up the run of Nathan Baker moments before the second and for failing to challenge Andreas Weimann for the final goal. Shearer said: "I think Hull might have had one or two eyes on the cup final in a couple of weeks time. That's hard for them but you'd think they would actually be playing for places. But they started off terribly. They conceded the goal after one minute." Danny Murphy added: "I think a few of them will have their eyes on the cup final but they want to be careful because Steve Bruce isn't happy and he won't put up with any bad performances between now and then." Credit to Davies though. He had got in first, tweeting an acknowledgement of a poor game.

Individually poor firstly but also collectively. We will not win games of football with first half performances like that! #HCAFC

— Curtis Davies #6 (@TheCurtisDavies) May 3, 2014

Fair Play Arsene Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he will not rest players before the FA Cup final, even though the Gunners have secured fourth place and Champions League action. Arsenal play Norwich in their final league game of the season next Sunday, a game which could still affect City as Norwich could still be looking for points for Premier safety. But Wenger says it 'wouldn't be fair' to put out a weaker side in the run in to the Final. He said: 'Our target is to make maximum points until the end of the season. 'I will absolutely try to achieve that. As well as Arsenal Football Club we have a responsibility to be fair.'Huddlestone SOS? Should Hull City's Tom Huddlestone still hold off booking his summer holiday? After fevered speculation linking him to a place in England's World Cup squad, all went quiet earlier this year with no mention by manager Roy Hodgson of the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder. Now former Liverpool captain and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has named Huddlestone in his Daily Mail column as one of his five players who could answer a "World Cup SOS" if Hodgson has injuries worries or form doubts ahead of naming his Brazil squad a week tomorrow. Carragher says of Huddlestone: "One of the key men in Hull's successful campaign and has an FA Cup final to look forward to. Midfielder uses the ball well." Alongside Huddlestone are Sunderland's Adam Johnson, Liverpool's Jon Flanagan, recent Toronto FC arrival Jermaine Defoe and Everton's John Stones. Interestingly, The Independent on Sunday reports today that midfielders Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley are likely to now miss out on the Brazil squad because of their role in Manchester United's poor season. Willkommen Nick Greetings to Nick Proschwitz who made a quiet return to Hull City this week after his three-and-a-bit month spell with Championship club Barnsley. Nick started eight times for Barnsley and appeared from the bench six times, hitting four goals, making him, remarkably, Barnsley's tied second highest goal scorer. He couldn't help Barnsley from being relegated and returned early from his loan spell. Nick still has a year remaining on his contract at City.Aluko's pain at Nigeria violence On a more serious note, Hull City's Sone Aluko has been highlighting the violence in Nigeria. The City forward has tweeted a number of times about a surge in violence which has included two bomb attacks which have claimed the lives of almost 100 people in the city of Abuja. Islamist militants are thought to be behind the attacks. Aluko was born in London but his father was once a politician in Nigeria and the player has represented the country.

Feel so helpless and angry 2bh reading news of another terror attack in Abuja. May those who have died RIP. I pray their deaths spark change

— Sone Aluko (@sonealuko) May 2, 2014