The dog days of the MLS season had as much bite as they did bark. And five players had our tails wagging enough for them to be nominees for the Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month award for August.

How it works: At the end of each month, the MLSsoccer.com editorial staff selects the five final nominees. These are then put to a vote among you, the fans. Fan voting for the August POTM will be open until 11:59 pm PT, Thursday, September 4. The winner will be revealed on the morning of Friday, September 5.

Fabian Castillo, FC Dallas. The young speedster light it up to the tune of 4 goals and 2 assists in 5 starts. FCD seared through the month with 4-1-0 record, putting them squarely in the playoff picture. And maybe more.

Bill Hamid, D.C. United. A second straight great month for DC's man between the pipes. Hamid's goals-against average wasn't great (1.66), but he turned in two Man of the Match-caliber performances as United went 4-1-0 in August, and climbed up to 1st place in the Eastern Conference.

Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy. If August proved anything, it's that the soon-to-retire legend is not going quietly into that good night. He had 3 goals and 6 assists in the month as LA put up a 5-1-1 record and are now challenging Seattle for top spot in the West.

Sebastien Le Toux, Philadelphia Union. He might have operated quietly, but the French fantasiste had 3 goals and 3 assists in four starts for the Union. The side went 2-1-1 in the month and are only two points below the "red line."

Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy. This goal made everyone's jaw drop. The audacity. The panache. But the Irish international was like that all month, with 4 goals and 6 assists in 6 starts. He's now 3rd in the Budweiser Golden Boot race, too.

---

Check out the previous winners of the Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month