Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lewis Holtby has said that Tim Sherwood must be given time after being appointed head coach on Monday.

The 44-year-old took over from Andre Villas-Boas on a temporary basis after the former Porto and Chelsea boss was sacked earlier this month.

He led the North Londoners to victory over Southampton in his first Premier League game in charge, although West Ham United had dumped them out of the League Cup four days previously.

Sherwood signed a contract at White Hart Lane until the end of the 2014-15 season on Monday, but boos could be heard after Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.

"We need to give him some time," Eurosport quotes Holtby as saying. "It's not easy coming into a club when you have a hectic Christmas period. You don't have much time to train, but credit to him - he has calmed things down."

Spurs welcome Stoke City to White Hart Lane tomorrow.