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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had gained merely 8 points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the past six games when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a late effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest reversed a contentious opening period opener, United were staring down the barrel.

The inquiry to the manager after his side recovered to tie could not have been more direct.

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

The answer was just as forceful.

"Yes, and by more goals, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim selects him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular volleyed strike from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a point.

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 achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this game, the manager believed his squad showed they have got better at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

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

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. We understand one another better. We talk increased about this.

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

"We just need to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Today, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more unsure of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

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

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league match this season and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to break something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to join the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a period 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 returned well before the signing period closes on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than what wantaway player would like.

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

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