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Gus Atkinson further complicated the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the ground early on day two of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.

The right-arm seamer felt a problem in his hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled on Saturday.

The England team reported the 27-year-old felt some "soreness" and was to take time off the field to undergo evaluation "over the next few hours".

The concluding match of the series beginning on 4 January starts on Sunday, 4 January.

The visitors have been without fast bowlers Mark Wood due to knee trouble and Jofra Archer with an abdominal strain during this series.

A replacement bowler was called up to provide backup.

His form was underwhelming in the opening two Tests, managing only a handful of scalps.

He was omitted for the Adelaide match, then recalled for the fourth Test as Archer's replacement.

Atkinson improved at the MCG, taking two wickets during the host's first knock, then making 28 while batting as one of just three England players who passed ten runs.

Following a brief spell at the end of day one, he came back on Saturday morning and removed Scott Boland edging to the keeper.

Unfortunately, at the end of the fifth over, he delivered a slower ball to the batsman and immediately felt his left hamstring.