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If you can't triumph, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their visit to Forest, Man Utd had secured only 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal secured a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious opening period opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

Had that match occurred last season, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was equally decisive.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley 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 Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this match, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his kit.

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is completely changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we have three good games.

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

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

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a Premier League match 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 second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is now considering the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo should be back long before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's just a moment.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a lot of fixtures."