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

Prior to their visit to Forest, Man Utd had secured only 8 points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious opening period opener, United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been any clearer.

Had that match happened last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was equally emphatic.

"Absolutely, 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 defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of October, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

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

"In the past, if we had such a poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

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

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. We understand each other better. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce 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. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach stated it was possible players who think they are at risk of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League game this season and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as United sought a way back into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to join the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is now open to the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back 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 rotation unseen before.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be returned well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed outcome than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the game," commented Amorim, when asked directly about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's just a moment.

"It's nothing to do with quality - and we have a many fixtures."