Dylan Hartley has been told after shedding his bad-boy imagehe has given himself a shot at the Lions captaincy against All Blacks next summer

DYLAN HARTLEY has been told that shedding his bad-boy image will give him a shot at the Lions captaincy in New Zealand.

Lions chief Warren Gatland picked Hartley for the 2013 series win in Australia — but the England  skipper missed out after being banned for abusing referee Wayne Barnes in the Premiership final.

Now reformed and unbeaten since being given the armband by England boss Eddie Jones, Hartley is joint-favourite for the top job next summer — alongside Gatland’s Wales captain Sam Warburton.

After being unveiled as Lions boss for the second time running, Gatland said: “Dylan has always played on the edge and that has been one of the traits that has made him such a competitor.

“He’s obviously matured and he’s done a great job with England. Eddie rates him incredibly highly. He has a lot of respect from the players as well.

“The pleasing thing is his discipline. He hasn’t been suspended for a while — that’s a big tick against his name.

“Hopefully he continues in that vein and continues to be successful.

“It is easier to select players who are coming in from a winning environment with a lot of confidence.

“It’s the same when you are picking captains.”

Wales ace Warburton knows the size of the task awaiting the skipper.

The flanker, 27, led the tourists to success in Australia three years ago and said: “Captaining the Lions was probably the most pressure I have ever been under. It’s a massive responsibility.

“You are out of your comfort zone because it is such a high-profile job.

“You have all the media commitments and commercial obligations, even before playing.

“It can all seem very daunting but I’d tell anyone to grab the job with both hands because it’s  such a massive honour.”

Gatland stepped down from his Wales duties with immediate effect and jets off to New Zealand tonight  to watch the All Blacks take on Argentina on Saturday.

He will name his coaching staff on December 7, with England aides Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard on his radar along with Wales No2 Shaun Edwards and Ireland assistant Andy Farrell.

Kiwi Gatland, 52, said: “There are a number of people, some top people, who will be in contention.

“For us, some continuity will be important, so we can be up and running as quickly as possible.

“There will be some fresh faces as well.”

The All Blacks have not lost a Test at home since defeat to South Africa in 2009 and the Lions have only ONE tour victory in New Zealand — coming in 1971.

But Gatland reckons it is not Mission Impossible.

He added: “I wouldn’t be doing the job if I thought that. I’m the eternal optimist.

“We have some real quality. There is genuine pace, great footwork, players with experience, size and physicality — and hopefully some belief and confidence as well.”