Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood has set Roberto Soldado a target of scoring 20 goals by the end of the season.

The Spaniard scored his 11th in all competitions against Cardiff City yesterday but it was only Soldado's sixth in the Premier League.

The goal proved to be the decisive moment in the match as Spurs won 1-0 and Sherwood wants Soldado to add nine more to his tally.

Spurs have ten more league matches and at least two games in the Europa League, with more to come should they progress against Benfica.

"I was delighted for Robbie, he's a great character around the place," said Sherwood.

"If I could have picked anyone to score that goal it would have been him.

"If he wasn't showing any desire in training, and belief he could turn it around I would leave him out.

"I have stuck by him, I believe he will come good and I maintain that.

"We're just hoping this is a platform for him to go on and score 20 goals between now and the end of the season."

All ten of Tottenham's outfield players rushed over to Soldado to congratulate the Spaniard after his goal at White Hart Lane and Sherwood says he is a popular member of the dressing room.

"He's a great lad, he speaks enough English to have good banter, he's a very humorous guy around the place," he said.

"He's never a moment's problem, a true professional and he gets on with his training, whatever anyone asks him to do, he does it.

"He knows he's been in a sticky spell, but I always looked him in the eye and knew that he had the belief."