Milner stars as Villa beat Hull

James Milner did his prospects of being included in England’s World Cup squad no harm with a fine all-round display as Aston Villa beat Hull 3-0 in the Premier League here on Saturday.

Milner helped create the opening goal at Villa Park for Richard Dunne and scored the second himself with a delightful lob.

Norway striker John Carew set the seal on Villa’s victory with a penalty two minutes from time.

Hull’s bad day was made worse by the sight of midfielder Jimmy Bullard leaving the field just 18 minutes in with a left knee injury.

The former Fulham playmaker had only returned to action in October after nine months on the sidelines due to an injury to his right knee.

Usually deployed as a winger, Milner, 23, found himself in a central midfield role against Hull.

Villa, fresh from their League Cup quarter-final win over Portsmouth, almost went ahead in the opening minute.

Milner’s chip was headed by Emile Heskey into the path of Luke Young but the advancing full-back shot just past the far post.

But Villa were 1-0 up in the 13th minute through central defender Dunne’s third goal of the season.

Milner’s precise pass found the Republic of Ireland international in space and he beat Hull keeper Matt Duke with a rising shot from 12 yards.

Villa went 2-0 up thanks to a quick-thinking 29th-minute goal.

Duke came out of his area to head the ball out but it went straight to Villa substitute Steve Sidwell on the touchline.

He quickly handed the ball to Ashley Young, whose throw-in found Milner and he cheekily lobbed the ball over the back-pedalling Duke from 20 yards and into the net.

Hull almost pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Craig Fagan’s shot beat Brad Friedel but hit the angle of post and crossbar.

But that was as close as Hull came and Carew added a third goal for Villa after Duke brought down Ashley Young in the box.