Younes Kaboul has backed Tim Sherwood to become Tottenham’s manager for the long-term after claiming the current head coach “deserves” a proper crack at the job.

Sherwood has guided Spurs to seven wins and two draws from his 10 Premier League games in charge, and last night’s 4-0 win at Newcastle – their widest margin of victory in the competition since defeating Aston Villa by the same score on Boxing Day 2012 – took them to within seven points of leaders Chelsea.

As Tottenham continue to be linked with Holland coach Louis van Gaal, Sherwood confessed this week that he might still lose the post even if he takes the club into the Champions League. But Kaboul – starting his first Premier League game since August 2012 – would like Sherwood to be retained beyond the end of this campaign.

“I hope so, for him,” Kaboul told Standard Sport. “He deserves it. He knows the club very well, he’s been here for a long time and he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“He learned a lot in the past and the best fact is that he played football at a high level. He won the title with Blackburn in 1995, so he has plenty of experience. His playing career is important, because he knows what it’s like for us.

“We don’t waste time on other stuff, because he went through everything and he understands. He knows the game perfectly. I remember that when Harry Redknapp was manager (from 2008-2012), Tim and [coaches] Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey would come to nearly every game.

“Wherever we were playing, it didn’t matter; they would be there. They would talk to us about how to deal better with certain situations on the pitch and even then, I could see Tim becoming a manager. He just had to be patient and wait for his chance.”

Kaboul himself has needed to show abundant patience after his long lay-off, due primarily to a serious knee injury. His previous Premier League start was also at St James’ Park and although Kaboul admitted he had some dark moments, he never lost faith that he would rediscover his best form.

Now, his sole objective is to help Tottenham finish in the top four of the Premier League and qualify for Europe’s main club competition, which they came desperately close to achieving in each of the last two seasons.

“Everyone did a great job at Newcastle but to be up there, we need more again,” Kaboul continued. “We need to be hungry for victory in every game and do the extra two yards for each other. That’s the only way we’re going to be able to play in the Champions League next season.”

Kaboul made an encouraging return but it was at the other end of the pitch where Spurs overwhelmed Newcastle. Leading 1-0 at half-time thanks to Emmanuel Adebayor’s goal, Paulinho, Adebayor and substitute Nacer Chadli struck after the break to complete the rout.