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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their visit to Forest, Manchester United had secured only eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six matches when they trailed since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious first-half opener, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

The question to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been any clearer.

Had that match occurred last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as forceful.

"Yes, and by more goals, I believe so."

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from just outside the box late in the game to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

The resolve, the will, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

In this match, the manager felt his squad showed they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

The forward is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. We understand each other more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach stated it was possible members of the squad who think they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a league game this season and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to join Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a level of squad changes unseen before.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo should be returned well before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than any wantaway player would prefer.

"It is the demands of the game," said Amorim, when questioned specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a lot of fixtures."