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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Before their trip to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had gained merely 8 points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the past six matches when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late effort snatched a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious opening period goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been more direct.

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was just as decisive.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the beginning of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

The resolve, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this game, the manager believed his squad demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Now is a distinct sensation. It's evident we could not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will not give an rival any rest.

Amorim was asked precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We communicate increased about this.

"We proved this season we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we played the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was likely players who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a league match so far and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join Napoli in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is now considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be returned long before the signing period ends on 2 February - which may mean a delayed outcome than any wantaway player would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," said Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

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