'Major setback' for the English camp after Atkinson is forced off with a hamstring injury.
The pace bowler further complicated the injury concerns plaguing England after leaving the playing area early on day two of the Boxing Day Test versus the Australians.
The pace bowler pulled up with his left hamstring after the final ball that he bowled at the MCG.
Team management indicated the 27-year-old had experienced "tightness" and would spend time away from the action to undergo evaluation "over the next few hours".
The series decider of the tour at the SCG gets underway on Sunday, 4 January.
England have previously lost fast bowlers Mark Wood due to knee trouble and Jofra Archer because of a side injury on this Ashes tour.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as cover for Wood.
Atkinson struggled during the first two matches, taking just three wickets.
He was left out for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the fourth Test in the playing XI.
Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, bagging two scalps with the ball, before adding 28 with the bat among just a trio of English batsmen to reach double figures.
Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he came back the next day and removed Scott Boland Scott Boland caught behind.
However, at the end of that over, he sent down a variation to the batsman and suddenly grabbed for his hamstring.
Atkinson was recalled for the Melbourne match having missed the previous Test.
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