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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained just 8 points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after letting in twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a contentious first-half goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

'If that game happened last season, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally forceful.

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

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular volleyed strike 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 Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

In this match, Amorim felt his players showed they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct sensation. You can sense we might not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a major club occasionally has to have."

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

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he said. "Following three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend one another better. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can have bad moments but then, we have three good games.

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

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

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

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the total is 138 from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League match so far and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained the manager. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back 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 the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the pair should be back well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than what wantaway player would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," said the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

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