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

Prior to their trip to Forest, Manchester United had earned merely eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to the manager after his side fought back to tie could not have been any clearer.

Had that match occurred last season, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, I believe so."

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

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

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger likely contributed.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

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

The coach was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond saying the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We communicate more about this.

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

"We just need to remain inside the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was possible players who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a league game this season and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as United sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break something," explained the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to join Napoli in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a period which features a few midweek games which will require a level of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be back long before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than any eager to leave player would like.

"This is about the demands of the sport," said the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

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