These five for United under radar thus far

Atlanta United’s training camp roster is filled with more than 20 players. Its starting 11 is a blank slate.

It’s a preseason theme oftsaid by club president Darren Eales and technical director Carlos Bocanegra.

Those players, along with manager Gerardo Martino and his staff, flew on Monday to Bradenton, Fla., where they will begin two weeks of training camp. A larger goal: determining which players can help the squad become the first MLS expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural year since Seattle in 2009.

While it would be a shock if certain players — defender Michael Parkhurst and midfielders Hector Villalba and Miguel Almiron — don’t make the starting 11 for the March 5 opener against New York Red Bulls, what about those under-the-radar players? Those who, with a good training camp and showing in the four preseason games, could impact the season? A quick look: ■ Andrew Carleton, midfielder: Atlanta United’s first Homegrown Player signing, Carleton is just 16 but already is being mentioned as a potential breakout player for the U.S. men’s national team this year. Carleton —dubbed the Powder Springs Pulisic in reference to emerging U.S. standout Christian Pulisic, who plays for Borussia Dortmund in Germany’s first division — seemed likely to gain experience in camp. Then he would be assigned to Charleston in USL so that he can gain playing experience.

■Julian Gressel, midfielder: Atlanta United has lots of players who can fill the role of a defensive midfielder, but doesn’t really have a true defensive midfielder — someone who can shield the centerbacks and fullbacks, break up counter-attacks and start them.

■Zach Loyd, defender: The central defender was acquired by Atlanta in the expansion draft. Once a reliable starter for Dallas with more than 150 appearances since 2010, a concussion ended his 2016 season after just 12 games.

He has the versatility to play any of the positions across the back and the experience to be a calming factor, an important element for an expansion team looking to build chemistry and continuity as quickly as possible. It seems likely that he and Parkhurst will be paired in the middle and asked to mentor Miles Robinson, Atlanta United’s No. 2 choice in the SuperDraft.

■ Alec Kann, goalkeeper: Atlanta United currently has three goalkeepers, only one of whom has played in the MLS. Kann is that player, though his experience is limited to just eight games. But that’s more than Alex Tambakis, the club’s first signing, or Alex Kapp, selected in the fourth round of the SuperDraft.

Kann, a 26-year-old native of Decatur, has the height (6-foot-4) to fill a goal. Now, it’s just a matter of winning the job ... unless the rumored signing of U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan occurs.

■ Romario Williams, forward: Williams, originally a No. 3 pick by Montreal, wasn’t able to secure a spot with that team, with just two appearances in two seasons. He moved on to Charleston, where he scored 10 goals last season.