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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained merely 8 points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious first-half goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The question to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been more direct.

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

The answer was equally forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that the young player showed why Amorim selects him at wing-back by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the season that United are playing better this season. Since the beginning of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

The resolve, the desire, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this game, Amorim felt his players showed they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. It's evident we could not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and the winger must have helped.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his kit.

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

Amorim was asked precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from 7.

Not one has begun a league game so far and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a way back into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but the club would not sanction a transfer. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently open to the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which includes a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be back long before the signing period ends on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"It is the demands of the game," said Amorim, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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