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When you cannot win, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned only eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six matches when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious first-half opener, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

The question to Amorim after his side fought back to tie could not have been any clearer.

'If that game occurred last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was just as decisive.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a point.

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. It's evident we might not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

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

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

The coach was asked exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond saying the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. We understand one another more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to be inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we played the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League game this season and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"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 break the rhythm," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to join Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a period which includes a couple of midweek games which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be returned long before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a later resolution than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the demands of the sport," said Amorim, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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