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When you cannot win, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Before their trip to Forest, Manchester United had gained just 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six matches when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period goal, United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Yes, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim picks him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from just outside the box late in the game to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that 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 will, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

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

"Previously, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club sometimes has to have."

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

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

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

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We talk increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to remain inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we played the game. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Regarding Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their futures in the manager's new-look squad.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was possible members of the squad who think they are at risk of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his four Premier League cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a Premier League match so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. The striker was coming back from injury but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which includes a few midweek games which will require a level of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be returned long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than what wantaway player would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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