'Major setback' for the touring side as Atkinson goes off due to a hamstring issue.
The pace bowler increased the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the field during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.
The pace bowler pulled up with his hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled on Saturday.
Team management indicated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and was to take time away from the action in order to be assessed "during the day".
The concluding match in this Ashes battle beginning on 4 January starts at the end of the week.
England have been without key quicks one seamer with a knee problem and another paceman with an abdominal strain during this series.
Matthew Fisher was added to the party to provide backup.
His form was underwhelming early in the series, managing only a handful of scalps.
He was left out of the third Test, then recalled for the Melbourne Test in the playing XI.
Surrey's Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, claiming a couple of wickets during the host's first knock, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman being one of only three English batsmen who passed ten runs.
Following a brief spell at the end of day one, he resumed the next day and removed Scott Boland edging to the keeper.
Unfortunately, on the final ball of his spell, he delivered a change of pace to Travis Head and promptly felt for his hamstring.
The English bowler was brought back for the fourth Ashes Test following his omission the previous Test.
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