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If you can't win, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured only eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they trailed since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal snatched a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period opener, United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been more direct.

Had that match happened the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was equally emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, I believe so."

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the season that United are playing better this season. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this game, Amorim felt his squad showed they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. You can sense we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

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

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

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. We understand each other better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was possible players who think they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from 7.

Neither has begun a Premier League match so far and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as United sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained Amorim. "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 place to join the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is currently considering the possibility of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which features a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be returned long before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than any wantaway player would like.

"This is about the demands of the sport," said Amorim, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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