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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Manchester United had gained just eight points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal secured a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious opening period opener, United were in serious trouble.

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

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was equally emphatic.

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

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that the young player showed why Amorim selects him at wing-back by scoring a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a point.

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

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

In this match, Amorim believed his squad demonstrated they have improved 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 Amorim. "Now is a distinct feeling. You can sense we could not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a major club occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an opponent any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to remain engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Now, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was also a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

Neither has begun a league game so far and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a lot of quality on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to join the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but the club would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is now considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will require a level of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be returned long before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which could result in a later outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"It is the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

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