Matheus Martins is set to join up with the Brazil Under-20 squad for three friendlies later this month that will rule him out of a trio of Watford games.

The Brazil coach, Ramon Menezes, has added Martins and three others to the group which won the South American Under-20 Championships in February.

Martins had been selected for that tournament too, but Watford kept him back.

However, it is anticipated that the forward will link up with the rest of the Brazil Under-20 squad before April 15 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, for the series of three friendly games which are due to be played on the 15, 22 and 25.

Those games will form the final part of Brazil’s preparations for the Under-20 World Cup, which will be held in May.

If Martins does travel, then it would appear he would be unavailable for Watford’s Championship games at home to Bristol City (April 15) and Cardiff (April 19), and away to Hull (April 22).

Martins moved from Fluminese to Udinese in January, and then headed straight to Vicarage Road on loan.

He has since made six appearances for the Hornets, starting four times and coming on twice as a substitute under previous head coach Slaven Bilic.

His last outing, though, was in the 1-1 draw at Burnley on February 14, and he has not played under Chris Wilder.

However, the 19-year-old scored a hat-trick at Vicarage Road on Friday as the Under-21s trounced Peterborough 7-0.

Martins has been capped by Brazil at Under-16 level and then played in three Under-20 friendlies last year, scoring twice in a 4-1 win over Ecuador in June.