Nobody could complain about a lack of goals as Manchester City's Elite Development Squad and Under-18s kicked off their campaigns in August.
City's U18s recorded two 6-0 victories from their three games, while the EDS were involved in an 11- and 10-goal thrillers in their first two games in Premier League 2.
Nabil Touaizi bagged a hat-trick in both of those EDS games, showing why he was among the youngsters taken on the senior side's pre-season tour of the United States by Pep Guardiola during the summer.
Elite Development Squad (Under-23s)
Touaizi is undoubtedly the star man for August, having scored six goals in his first two games. City kicked off their Premier League 2 campaign in exciting fashion, beating Arsenal 6-5 and then West Ham 6-4.
“We still have things to work on defensively, but once we’ve had more time together and worked hard, we will overcome those issues," Touaizi said after the Arsenal match.
“The whole match was a bit crazy. Last season I played in some exciting games but nothing on this level!”
Benjamin Garre, another who toured with City in the US, notched two impressive assists against Arsenal and then scored twice against West Ham.
Adrian Bernabe, who signed from Barcelona and was also impressive in the States, rifled home a fine goal against the Gunners to show why he is so highly-rated. Rabbi Matondo, who reportedly sprinted 20m in 2.62 seconds this summer, faster than Leroy Sane, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling, also scored in both games.
City's EDS failed to scale those heights throughout the rest of the month, however.
Matondo was on the scoresheet again in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, while Touaizi bagged a late equaliser from the spot against Shrewsbury in the Checkatrade Trophy, although City eventually lost on penalties.
And those defensive concerns mentioned by Touaizi reared their head at the end of the month, with City thrashed 5-0 at Brighton last Friday. Bernabe and Garre were named on the bench.
Claudio Gomes, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, was an ever-present in the City midfield throughout August.
Under-18s
Gareth Taylor's U-18s, who enjoyed a 10-day training camp in Croatia this summer, began the season in fine style with a 6-0 win over Newcastle.
There was another hat-trick for one of City's youth prospects, with Henri Ogunby racking up his treble within 27 second-half minutes, each of his goals coming from close range.
Ogunby has been at City since 2013 and is no stranger to the U-18s, having notched a goal and an assist on his debut in that age group when he was just 15. He has been used on the right of a front three in the past but has been deployed in a central striking role of late.
D’Margio Wright-Phillips, son of City hero Shaun, is being used in a wide position instead and he too got on the scoresheet in that 6-0 win against Newcastle, with Lewis Fiorini and Alpha Diounkou also on target.
City were beaten 2-1 by Blackburn in their second game of the season despite fielding the same XI, with Fiorini and Wright-Phillips both hitting the woodwork before Fiorini scored from the spot.
The Blues bounced back a week later, however, when they thrashed Wolves 6-0. Ogunby got the ball rolling with another close-range strike, before Keke Simmonds and Fiorini netted twice each.
Simmonds had already hit the crossbar before he headed home Wright-Phillips' cross, and he tidied up a rebound to grab his second after half-time, while Fiorini finished a flowing team move and bagged another penalty.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who has been at the club since he was eight and is the younger brother of Tom Dele-Bashiru, who is also in the City youth ranks, was on target with a fine solo goal.
Loanees
Brandon Barker made an eye-catching contribution for Preston in August thanks to a fine solo goal against Leeds in the EFL Cup. Barker has been used on either flank so far this season, though in the Championship he has come on as a substitute in three separate defeats.
It has been a happier story in the cup, however, as he has scored against both Morecambe and Leeds, the latter coming after he picked up the ball deep in his own half, drove forward and fired in a powerful strike from outside the area.
Aleix Garcia started the season in a left-sided central midfield role for Girona but was substituted just after the hour mark and has had to make-do with substitute appearances since.
Patrick Roberts is also at Girona for the season but has had to make do with two nine-minute substitute appearances so far. Douglas Luiz also moved to Girona on loan on Friday.
Goalkeeper Aro Muric kept a clean sheet for NAC Breda in a 3-0 victory against De Graafshcap, before he was then recalled to City as a result of Claudio Bravo's serious Achilles injury. Muric will be City's No.2 while Bravo is on the sidelines.
Tosin Adarabioyo has started five games for West Brom since joining this summer, though the centre-back has been deployed at right-back in two of those. He did not look entirely comfortable on the right in his debut against Nottingham Forest, although he has been more solid when called upon since then. His time at the Hawthorns is being closey monitored by former City defender Joleon Lescott, who works with the club's defenders while they are out on loan.
Manu Garcia started three games for Toulouse in August. The Spaniard is being used in a No.10 role by the Ligue 1 side and while he has shown flashes of his technical ability he struggled to make much of a telling impact in his three games last month.
Marlos Moreno failed to start any of Flamengo's five league games in August. He was brought on as a sub in the first four matches but remained on the bench for the Brazilian's side's most recent outing.
Paolo Fernandes made two substitute appearances for NAC Breda and scored once for their U-21s. Thierry Ambrose has scored once and racked up two assists in four Ligue 2 appearances for for French side Lens, and has also started two cup matches.
