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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Manchester United had secured just 8 points from losing positions with their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal secured a tie.

When they went down at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a disputed opening period goal, United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side fought back to tie could not have been more direct.

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

The response was just as forceful.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim selects him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to secure a draw.

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

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

In this game, the manager felt his squad showed they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his kit.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We communicate increased about this.

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

"We just need to be inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Now, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Futures of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was possible players who believe they are at risk of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a Premier League match so far and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United chased a way back into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is now open to the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which includes a few midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the pair should be returned long before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," said the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

"It's nothing to do with quality - and we have a many games."