Fast bowler Atkinson Adds to the English team's Injury Problems.
'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson goes off suffering a hamstring problem.
The pace bowler increased the injury concerns plaguing England after leaving the playing area on the second morning of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.
The right-arm seamer pulled up with his left hamstring post-delivery of the fourth over at the MCG.
The England team indicated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and would spend time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "over the next few hours".
The concluding match of the series in Sydney starts this coming Sunday.
England have been without strike bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and Jofra Archer with an abdominal strain during this series.
A replacement bowler was called up as injury reinforcement.
His form was underwhelming in the opening two Tests, managing only three wickets.
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, taking two wickets with the ball, then making 28 with the bat as one of just three English batsmen who passed ten runs.
After bowling one over at the end of day one, he returned for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper.
Unfortunately, at the end of that over, he delivered a variation to Travis Head and promptly felt at his leg.
The English bowler was brought back for the Boxing Day Test following his omission the Adelaide game.