The midfield is the engine of any team.

At a glance, the offseason departures of Daniel Paladini (Chicago Fire), Josh Gardner (Columbus Crew) and Amir Lowery (Montreal Impact), it might look as if the RailHawks’ engine will sputter in 2011.

Look closer.

While the contributions of Paladini (seven goals, three assists), Gardner (seven goals, four assists) and Lowery (36 games, team-best 2,657 minutes) were significant, there’s little doubt inside the team that the returning players and new acquisitions will have no trouble filling the void.

“We’ll be just as good,” said Floyd Franks, who had two goals and three assists in 36 appearances in 2010. “We’d like a few more goals, but on the whole, I don’t think we’ll see  drop in the quality. They were good, but we’ll be fine.”

Franks is back for another run with the RailHawks, as is Matt Watson, now in his fourth season with the club. Watson had a great season for Carolina in 2010, appearing in 37 matches, logging 2,290 minutes and pitching in two goals and two assists.

Right wing Cory Elenio also comes back for his second season with the RailHawks. After joining the squad late in training camp last season, Elenio proved a valuable addition. He appeared in a total of 29 matches and played 1,538 minutes. He had two goals and one assist in all competitions.

One new/old face is Jonny Steele, who was voted the RailHawks’ Fan Favorite during his stay with the team in 2007, when he appeared in 26 matches, played 2,161 minutes and had five assists. Not only does Steele bring back a lethal left-foot, but he’ll also add an emotional element that, at times, as been lacking since he left.

“He’s been MVP of the league and I think he’s going to bring to the table a bit of something we lacked last year, a fieriness, an edge,” Watson said. “Last year we had the quality, but at times we lacked the fire. This year, we’re going to have that.”

Among the new faces in the midfield are Stephen Glass, Brian Farber, and Nick Zimmerman.

Glass brings a wealth of top-notch experience to the squad. He’s played 15 seasons in England in Scotland and appeared with the likes of Aberdeen, Newcastle United and Hibernian. He was Man of the Match in the 1995 Scottish Cup final (an effort that yielded unending praise from the Aberdeen faithful – and a mountain bike). He also appeared in the 1999 FA Cup final with Newcastle against Manchester United.

“Stephen is probably the highest caliber player the RailHawks have ever had,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. “He’s two, three passes ahead of most players in the team and our league. It’s going to be interesting to see how he’s going to do physically.”

Farber spent the last two seasons with the Portland Timbers. In 2009, he had five goals and four assists while helping the Timbers win the USL-1 Commissioner’s Cup. He missed most of 2010 due to injury, but he’s recovered now and has offered flashes of the pace and skill he’ll bring to the wings.

“Farber’s got pace, something crucial,” Watson said. “A lot of players can be technically sound, but you can’t stop pace.”

Zimmerman comes to Carolina after two seasons in MLS. He was with New York in 2009 and Philadelphia in 2010 and saw time in 19 matches over two seasons. He’ll have a place attacking from the middle of the park or the right wing.

Chris Nurse is expected to fill in the holding midfielder spot, providing an imposing figure in front of the backline. Nurse has been a thorn in the RailHawks side during the last two seasons, which he spent with Rochester and Puerto Rico.

Rennie also added a proven winner in rookie Nick Thompson. Thompson led Messiah College to three straight NCAA Division III national championships at Messiah College from 2008-10. He scored 54 goals and had 18 assists during his career and was second-team All-American last fall.

With such a dynamic, experienced group in the midfield, there’s little doubt this group will make the RailHawks go.

“Each of us have something different,” Watson said. “I think we all have the components to complement each other really well.”

Added Rennie: “These guys add a lot to the squad. Who we had was good. They have to prove it, but some of them could be better than the guys we lost. We’ll have to wait and see.”