Seamer Atkinson Compounds the English team's Injury Problems.
'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson is forced off with a hamstring injury.
The pace bowler increased the fitness woes of the England squad after leaving the field on the second morning of the fourth Ashes Test versus the Australians.
Atkinson felt a problem in his left hamstring after the final ball of the fourth over during the morning session.
The England team stated Atkinson reported "discomfort" and required time on the sidelines for further assessment "in the coming hours".
The series decider of the tour in Sydney begins on Sunday, 4 January.
The English side has already lost fast bowlers Mark Wood due to knee trouble and another paceman to a side strain on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement.
Atkinson struggled during the first two matches, taking just a handful of scalps.
He was dropped for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Boxing Day match as Archer's replacement.
Surrey's Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, claiming a couple of wickets in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs with the bat being one of only three English batsmen who passed ten runs.
After bowling one over at the end of day one, he resumed the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper.
However, on the final ball of that over, he bowled a slower ball to the batsman and promptly felt at his leg.
Gus Atkinson was recalled for the Boxing Day Test after being left out the Adelaide game.
