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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured just 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious first-half goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The response was equally decisive.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this match, Amorim believed his players showed they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from saying the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a different assurance. We understand each other more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Doubt Lingers Regarding Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach said it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a league game so far and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break something," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join Napoli in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is currently considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a period which features a couple of midweek games which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be returned long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a later resolution than any eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's just a moment.

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