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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Before their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had earned just eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a disputed first-half opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The answer was just as emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, in my opinion."

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim selects him at wing-back by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the start of October, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

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

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We talk more about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this season we can experience bad moments but then, we have three strong performances.

"We just need to be engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

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

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has begun a league match so far and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a period which includes a couple of midweek games which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be back well before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed outcome than any wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the sport," commented Amorim, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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