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

Prior to their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had gained just 8 points from losing positions with Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The answer was just as emphatic.

"Yes, and by more goals, in my opinion."

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated 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 secure a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the season that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the start of autumn, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this game, Amorim felt his squad showed they have got better at that too.

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "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 big team occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his kit.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different assurance. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate increased about this.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Now, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach said it was possible players who think they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a lot of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to join the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a level of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be back long before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which may mean a later resolution than what eager to leave player would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," said Amorim, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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