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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their visit to Forest, Man Utd had secured just eight points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a contentious first-half opener, United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to draw could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match occurred the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally decisive.

"Yes, and by more goals, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim selects him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a draw.

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

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this game, Amorim believed his squad showed they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a major club sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

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

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We talk increased about this.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the game. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was possible players who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Not one has begun a league game so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is now open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will require a level of squad changes unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be back long before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a delayed outcome than any eager to leave player would like.

"It is the demands of the game," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a many games."