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

Before their visit to Forest, Man Utd had secured only eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six games when they trailed since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The inquiry to the manager after his side fought back to draw could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match occurred the previous campaign, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was just as emphatic.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at wing-back by scoring a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

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

The determination, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this match, Amorim felt his players demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we could not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a footballer who will never allow an rival any rest.

The coach was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is completely different," he said. "Following three good games and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend each other better. We talk more about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this year we can have bad moments but suddenly, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to be inside the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we played the encounter. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when United showed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was possible players who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a Premier League match so far and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was not to change the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to join the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is currently considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a period which features a few midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be returned well before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than any eager to leave individual would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," said Amorim, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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