Carlton midfielder Dale Thomas says he’s been in a "constant battle" with his shoulder over the past two months.

After completing rehab and then struggling to get through games, the decision was made for Thomas to undergo a season-ending shoulder reconstruction.

"Daisy" injured his shoulder in the first minute of the season opener against Richmond and since then it hasn’t been the same.

“Since the first minute of Round 1 when the shoulder came out I’ve been trying to paint a better picture of what was really going on inside there,” Thomas told Nova 100 on Wednesday.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t really get through a day of football training or living without the shoulder sliding in and out a couple of times.”

Carlton’s Head of Football Andrew McKay told SEN on Wednesday that it was best for Daisy to have the operation now, rather than wait until later in the season.

“We thought rather than getting four or five scratchy games out of Dale lets get it fixed up … so he can get a good pre-season under his belt and go again,” McKay said.

“If we’d waited another month or so … that would have inhibited his pre-season and he’d be behind the eight ball for next year as well.”

Thomas remains upbeat emphasising “he’ll be right” as he concentrates on being ready for day one of preseason.

“There has to be point sooner or later when it all turns around and a bit of luck turns my way,” he said.