Seamer Gus Atkinson Compounds England's Fitness Worries.
'Major setback' for the touring side after Atkinson is forced off with a hamstring injury.
The pace bowler added to the injury concerns plaguing England upon exiting the playing area early on day two of the fourth Ashes Test in the Ashes series.
Atkinson pulled up with his left hamstring immediately following a delivery of the fourth over on Saturday.
The touring camp indicated the 27-year-old had experienced "tightness" and required time off the field for further assessment "over the next few hours".
The final Test of the series beginning on 4 January begins on Sunday, 4 January.
The visitors have previously lost strike bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and another paceman to a side strain during this series.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement.
His form was underwhelming in the opening two Tests, taking just three wickets.
He was dropped for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test to fill the void.
Surrey's Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, claiming a couple of wickets with the ball, then making 28 as a batsman as one of just three English batsmen who passed ten runs.
Post a single over at the end of day one, he returned on Saturday morning and had nightwatchman edging to the keeper.
However, at the end of the fifth over, he sent down a change of pace to Travis Head and promptly felt his left hamstring.
Atkinson returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test following his omission the previous Test.
