STAR Carlton recruit Dale Thomas has refuted doubts abouthis fitness, which were raised by his former coach, Collingwood's NathanBuckley, on Wednesday morning.

A chronic ankle problem limited Thomas to just five games in2013, but he says he is back running, even though he will start the Blues'pre-season in the rehab group.

"The ankle's going really well. I'm running and stillrehabbing at the same time," he said at his first press conference as aCarlton player, which took place just a couple of hours after Buckley spoke tothe media.

Although Collingwood was disappointed to lose Thomas to theBlues during the free agency period, Buckley stated the Magpies had not been convinced he could fully overcome the ankle problem.

Asked to respond, Thomas said: "In my time atCollingwood I went and saw all the specialists and I got the same feedback thatthey got, which was also passed onto Carlton.

"I'm not sure why they have those reservations, butthey're entitled to their opinions on my ankle, and their doctors would have theiropinions.

"All I can go off is how it feels and what I've beentold, and so far it feels as good as it ever has.

"Fingers crossed, it holds up and the rest of the bodydoes too. I'm pretty confident with the rehabilitation staff here that I canget stuck right into it and get out there round one."

The Blues are still crowing about poaching Thomas from theirarch-rival.

"We're particularly pleased the Carlton Football Clubcould have a man of this bloke's stature," Blues president StephenKernahan said as he introduced Thomas to the media.

"He's played 157 games and we're rapt to have him here.What we love about him, apart from being a seriously good player, is that he'splayed well when it counts, in finals.

"He's a premiership player at his old club … and webelieve he's going to be a good player here for a long time."

Thomas is confident he will be fit to play in round one nextyear, but before that happens he needs to prove himself on the track.

The 26-year-old won't officially start his pre-season untilDecember 2, but he is already making regular visits to Visy Park, where hasbeen running and receiving treatment on his ankle.

"I think every pre-season you go into, you want to tryand better the last one," Thomas said.

"Unfortunately for me, that hasn't really been the caseover the past two years through injury.

"So I'm just really looking forward to getting stuckinto the pre-season, getting the body right and then really getting stuck intothe season proper and trying to, along with the rest of the boys, go a long waywith this club."

Thomas will wear No. 39 for Carlton. The number waspreviously made famous at the Blues by 1995 premiership player Ang Christou.

Its new wearer says he chose it for a number of diversereasons.

"It was the first number I wore when I played footyback in the day," Thomas explained.

"Also, Heath Shaw got in my ear when I was decidingabout numbers, so it was a bit of his influence."

Another reason was Thomas' appreciation for the on-fieldexploits of former Sydney Swans and Brisbane Bears forward Warwick Capper.

"Probably not so much what he's done since his football career, but probably more back in the day when he carried on a little bit," Thomas said.

"He didn't mind taking a high mark."