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

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had gained just 8 points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a contentious opening period opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The inquiry to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been any clearer.

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

The answer was just as emphatic.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the box late in the game to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

The determination, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this game, the manager believed his players demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the epitome of a player who will never allow an opponent any rest.

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

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

"We demonstrated this season we can have bad moments but then, we produce three good games.

"We just need to be inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when United showed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

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

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League game this season and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to move to Napoli in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently considering the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which features a few midweek games which will require a level of rotation unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"It is the characteristics of the game," commented the coach, 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 many games."